Arthritis is classified as a joint disorder featuring inflammation. A joint functions to move the body parts connected by its bones. Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints. Arthritis is frequently accompanied by joint pain. It can generally be divided into two main types:
- Degenerative (in which pathologic changes begin in the articular cartilage of joints).
- Inflammatory (in which pathologic changes begin in the synovial membrane of joints).
There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. Some of the more common types include:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Osteoarthritis (OA)
- Gout
(Mace J.D & Kowalczyk N.,2004)
